Time
after time the pair got behind Blues’ defence as Paul Caddis, who departed with a hamstring injury, and Paul Robinson were given a tough test.Bolasie was influential in the opening goal.

His
surging run down the left saw him beat Robinson to the byline and when he crossed for Murray the predatory striker sneaked in his first.

The second was all about Zaha.

Robinson had to move to right-back when Caddis was forced off as young Mitch Hancox came on at left-back.

The backline was still re-shuffling when Palace broke and the in-demand wideman cleverly pulled out the defence.

Spotting
left-back Jonathan Parr on the over-lap, Zaha neatly played in his team-mate who crossed for Murray to tap in. The Championship’s top scorer, who now has 20 goals in just 18 appearances, won’t score an easier goal all season yet it seems nothing can stop his current rich vein of form

Blues could easily have crumbled and gone on to lose the game by a big margin and, in truth, if Zigic had not arrived they might well have done.

With his first touch of the game he headed past Speroni to wake up the crowd and put some life into the hosts’ display.

Hall was brave and direct and happy to go at the Palace defence with a series of fearless attacks.

And on 83 minutes it was his corner that found Diop in the penalty box for the equaliser.

The
soon-to-be 35-year-old has made a habit of scoring thundering headers over the course of his career and this was no different. Chances at either end went begging before full-time and it was certainly the home support who left the happier of the two.

That was crucial because they’ve not had much to cheer about this year.

The team needs to excite the fans again in order to rid of the stale feeling that has threatened to set in once and for all.